"Thairath Online - Thairath TV" won two awards "Second Prize - Popular Vote" in a short clip contest reflecting the real lives of media workers on World Press Freedom Day 2026
At 10:00 a.m. on 3 May 2026, the Thai Journalists Association and the Online News Producers Association jointly held the World Press Freedom Day 2026 event at Best Western Hotel, Chatuchak, Bangkok. The event highlighted the media's role in a transitional era and emphasized the importance of freedom, responsibility, and cooperation from all sectors to maintain a strong media ecosystem, with enthusiastic participation from media professionals.
Ms. Naree Ruangnu, President of the Thai Journalists Association, opened the event by stating that 3 May each year reminds the global community of the importance of press freedom, a key foundation of democratic society. For media workers in Thailand, this day means more than celebration; it is a time to reflect, stand firm, and seek solutions amid the storm severely impacting the media industry.
Today’s media landscape has changed completely. We face not only traditional threats to freedom but also structural crises threatening media organizations’ survival. This is due to monopolization by multinational digital platforms absorbing massive revenue, while content producers still bear the high costs of quality journalism. Social agenda-setting power is challenged by algorithms, and AI technology is transforming how people consume news permanently. Therefore, today's event is not just a ceremony but a united effort to confront these challenges concretely. Morning activities were arranged to portray our multifaceted struggle.
Mr. Wattana Chai Yaninthorn, Vice President for Professional Standards of the Online News Producers Association, said that for online media workers, the changing landscape—including structural crises, platform influence, and AI emergence—is not just theory but a battleground for survival. Every day, we do not just produce news; we compete with all content in the universe to capture audience attention within seconds on screens. As AI advances, it enters not only as an assistant but as a new player in newsrooms. This challenges us to use this powerful tool to elevate journalism quality and prevent it from becoming a source of misinformation that undermines our credibility.
Mr. Chairit Yonpiam, Vice President for Rights, Freedom, and Media Reform of the Association and Secretary-General of the Thai Journalists Association, read a statement for World Press Freedom Day, noting that amid changes in the digital media landscape, the media industry faces multifaceted challenges from technological transitions, especially artificial intelligence (AI), and the influence of multinational platforms shaping information direction. The professional media organizations—the Thai Journalists Association and the Online News Producers Association—declare their intent and present demands to the government and all sectors as follows:
1. The government must provide space for the media to freely monitor state power, listen to diverse opinions, and protect citizens’ right to information. It should avoid using laws, state power, or other means to interfere with public-interest information presentation to enhance transparency and trust in governance.
2. The government should expedite laws or measures ensuring fairness between news producers and digital platforms by requiring platforms that monetize news content to share benefits or compensation fairly, under the principle that "quality news has costs," enabling media to sustain and produce quality content for society.
3. The government should promote laws preventing the use of judicial processes to intimidate public-interest actors by protecting journalists and citizens who disclose information or express honest opinions, allowing oversight of power without fear, leading to a transparent and accountable society.
4. The media must uphold professional standards by presenting accurate, balanced, and fact-checked information, especially as AI technology may be used to create or distort information. Credibility and public responsibility are the profession’s core values.
5. The public is invited to support quality, ethical media and verify information before sharing to help reduce fake news and content that causes social division.
Mr. Chairit stated that press freedom is freedom for the people. The media must stand firm on ethics, present information accurately, and be socially responsible. The event also presented awards for photo and video contests on World Press Freedom Day 2026 to honor the role and power of media work.
In the photo contest titled "The Power of News, The Power of Truth," the grand prize of 10,000 baht went to Mr. Taweechai Chantawong from PPTV Online for "Soldiers Turn Their Guns, Media Turns Their Lenses." The second prize with 5,000 baht was awarded to Mr. Sopon Suesena from Nation Photo for "Each to Their Duty." The consolation prize of 2,500 baht went to Mr. Thanachai Pramornpanich from Tnnonline for "Media Is Work, Father Is Duty." The Popular Vote prize of 5,000 baht was awarded to Mr. Krisdakorn Phukabngoen from Channel 8 Online News for the photo "Photographer Masses," depicting media work at the Thailand-Cambodia border.
Meanwhile, in the short clip category "The Real Life of Media Workers" the grand prize of 10,000 baht went to Mr. Santisak Niyomchat from Daily News Online for a recap of Songkran news coverage. The second prize with 5,000 baht went to Mr. Sorawich Boonchanok from Thairath Online for a work revealing the true life of journalists. The consolation prize of 2,500 baht went to Ms. Treenuch Ingkutanon from THE STANDARD for a behind-the-scenes news scoop. The Popular Vote prize of 5,000 baht went to Mr. Nakarin Kotsee from Thairath TV for "Journalists’ Life in 1 Minute," which received the highest votes.
This event reflects media professional organizations’ efforts to stand firm amid changes in the media landscape and reiterate the media's role in holding power accountable while maintaining professional standards and social responsibility. The event also included a panel discussion titled “The Survival of Thai Media in an Era Dominated by Platforms,” featuring four representatives from various sectors: Mr. Adisak Limprungpatanakit (Deputy Director of Thai PBS) offering an academic perspective; Associate Professor Pijitra Supasawatkul, researcher at Chulalongkorn University’s Asian Studies Institute, providing economic and policy views; Mr. Pawut Pongwitthaphanu, digital economy expert and party-list MP for the People's Party; and Dr. Thanakorn Srisuksai, manager of the Safe and Creative Media Fund, sharing a supporter’s viewpoint.